Newtonmore to Kincraig

The sixth stage of the East Highland Way heads from the town of Newtonmore via moorland and Loch Gynack
to reach Kingussie, capital of Badenoch. The route then crosses the Insh Marshes - a stunning place for birdwatchers - before visiting Loch Insh en route to Kincraig.

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Head east along the Main Street in Newtonmore, towards Kingussie. Once opposite the Highland Folk Museum, the
pavement on the north side becomes a footpath running through the woodland parallel to the road, including some
steps in places. Pass through a car park and over a second stile, heading left when the Allt Laraidh is seen to
follow the Wild Cat Trail path which heads through the woods upstream. Cross
another stile and head over a footbridge; the route now becomes indistinct, but continue over the pastures between
the two burns, crossing another stile before joining a track. Follow this to the right; the track fords a burn
but with a footbridge alongside. Continue until the track ends, then carry on northwards towards the corner of
a forestry plantation. Turn right here, through the gate, and continue alongside the plantation for around 500m, crossing a track and a footbridge, until the path for Kingussie swings away to the right.

Stage 2

Follow this grassy path - boggy in places - until it forks by a marker post. Take the left branch here, eventually
passing through a gate in a fence and a gap in a drystone wall. The path continues across the foot of the grassy
northern slopes of Creag Bheag, passing the scant remains of long abandoned townships.
Eventually the path passes the southern side of lonely Loch Gynack, passing through
some attractive birch woodland. Eventually a crossroads of paths is reached; go straight ahead here, following
part of the Golf Course circular. The path continues southwards through the woods, and is boggy underfoot in places
with some boardwalks. Pass through a gate at another signpost; eventually the route emerges onto a rough track
at the caravan park. Meet a tarred road and follow this to the right towards Kingussie. The road leads straight
into the town, but it is more interesting to follow the Mill Trail; for this route turn left as signed to cross
a footbridge, climb up the path then turn right along the road. After a short distance a path cuts off right between
gardens and rejoins the Allt Gynack. Continue following the waymarkers, passing the old mill and finally across
another footbridge. Turn left to continue down to the centre of Kingussie beside the Duke of Gordon Hotel. At the main street, turn right and then immediately left on Station Road, alongside the park,

Stage 3

Continue down the road, passing the station and Kingussie High School. Immediately after the school take a
path which runs through the pine trees, parallel to the road on the left side. When a picnic table is reached
the road is rejoined and leads on, crossing a bridge over the Spey and then under the A9. At a junction, keep
to the main road as it bends left. The road now leads past the impressive ruins of Ruthven Barracks, one of four
built around Scotland in 1719 after the first Jacobite uprising; the situation commands a grand view over Badenoch.
Continue along the road for just over another kilometre to the entrance to the Insh
Marshes National Nature Reserve and a sign for the start/end of the Badenoch
Way. Leave the road, cross the track to the car park and instead follow the Badenoch Way footpath which leads off to the right of the notice board.

Stage 4

The Insh Marshes are important for wildlife as they are the largest area of floodplain in Britain that has
not been improved or drained meaning it supports a vast array of different species. It also means that as the
marshes flood naturally several times a year the views are often different on each visit. The path immediately
splits; the left branch leads to the top of a new hide with a superb view over the marsh, but the East Highland
Way takes the right branch, the Badenoch Way, which is followed for the rest of this stage. Soon a sign indicates
an optional detour to another hide down to the left; continue ahead along the trail until a signed t-junction
is reached. Here the left branch leads to a picnic area and viewpoint, whereas the walk continues through the
gate to the right. When a track is reached the trail goes straight across on the far side, then white arrow signs indicate the way as the path swings left and then right, until a bench looking down the strath.

Stage 5

The trail descends and then forks; a left branch detours to an old churchyard, but the route continues to the
right. At the bottom of the hill the path turns right alongside a stone wall, and then a short fenced section.
Continue with a fence on the left, soon coming alongside the River Tromie. Pass the first of two wooden huts and
follow the trail as it is signed forking right away from the river. Ignore the next white arrow which points right
(back towards the car park) and instead head left to reach the B970 road once more, through a gate.

Stage 6

Turn left along the road, crossing a bridge over the foaming River Tromie. Turn right on the far side, up a
track signed as a right of way to Atholl via the Gaick, then, after
300m, take a sharp left signed for the Badenoch Way. The track leads to the hamlet of Drumguish. Go straight ahead
at the minor road junction, with the tarmac giving way to a stony and then muddy track which plunges into forestry.
Continue along the main route, passing through a gate and running alongside a fence during a more open, heathery
section. After another gate the route becomes a larger track; continue ahead through the hamlet of Inveruglas.

Stage 7

Keep straight ahead when the main track swings left, passing through a gate after the last house and keeping
ahead again at another signed junction alongside a pine plantation. Head through another gate, and ignore two
further paths heading off to the left. Eventually a tarred drive is reached; turn right along this, through a
metal gate, then left at a junction of forestry tracks. Keep a look out for a waymarker post and narrow path branching
off to the left into the trees - this could be easily missed. Follow this path through the plantations; the going
is boggy in places with some boardwalk. Keep left then right at two junctions - both marked for the Badenoch Way.
Follow a track downhill below pylons, before branching left onto a path (Badenoch Way marker) once more. This
follows telegraph poles downhill until a track is reached. Turn left along this, following it almost to the B970 road. Before emerging on the road, turn right onto a path which runs parallel to it.

Stage 8

Head very briefly to the right along the road; ignore the track off left but instead take a signed footpath
into the woods alongside it. Go left at a path junction (signed Badenoch Way), then follow a path downhill through
the trees, eventually turning right at a 'Lochside Trail' sign, with the path reaching the shores of Loch Insh.
Continue briefly beside the loch before the markers indicate a route up steps, along a high bank then down steps.
Another set of steps and the path climbs up and eventually reaches the road. Turn left along this, then left again
onto a fenced path near modern houses. This leads to Loch Insh watersports, which offers overnight accommodation
as well as a cafe/ restaurant and activities. To continue the walk, head through the centre to reach the main
road, which has a path on its left side at first and then on the right. The road leads all the way into the village
of Kincraig, which has a shop and further accommodation; whereas the next part of the East Highland Way branches
off right onto a track signed 'Footpath to Feshiebridge'.